In a day of high drama in Oudtshoorn, the DA claimed it had snatched control of the municipality from the ANC.
|||Cape Town - In a day of high drama in Oudtshoorn on Friday, the DA claimed it had snatched control of the municipality from the ANC with the help of five rebel ANC councillors during a heated hostile take-over bid.
The embattled Oudtshoorn municipality has been ruled by the ANC and its alliance partners, the National People’s Party (NPP) and Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa).
The mastermind behind the take-over bid was none other than DA bigwig and provincial deputy leader Theuns Botha, who apparently caucused secretly into the early morning hours on Friday with the five disgruntled ANC councillors.
According to Botha, the DA’s motion of no confidence in the Speaker, mayor and deputy mayor of the Oudtshoorn municipality was accepted with a 17-0 vote.
Five of the 11 ANC councillors, as well as the Cope councillors, voted with the DA.
Yesterday DA councillors Chris MacPherson, Ben van Wyk and Felicity Magxaka were appointed as Speaker, mayor and deputy mayor of Oudtshoorn respectively.
Several ANC municipal officials were also suspended pending disciplinary hearings.
But the ANC disputed the take-over, branding the meeting unlawful because the NPP Speaker, before the takeover, had refused the DA motion, then adjourned the meeting. But it went ahead anyway.
Municipality Speaker John Stoffels agreed, claiming he was still the Speaker, that Gordon April remained the executive mayor, and Vlancio Donson his deputy.
Stoffels said the council would address the DA’s “illegal” action: “The necessary legal action is already in progress
.”
The five ANC members who have subsequently joined the DA are proportional councillors Pieter Luiters and Hendrik Botha, and ward councillors Jurie Harmse, Hendrik Ruiters and Jeremy Goliath.
Speaking from the Klein Karoo on Friday, Botha confirmed the five ANC councillors had joined the DA.
“These councillors recently approached the DA and informed us of their intent. They cited bad service delivery, mismanagement and maladministration by the ANC-led Oudtshoorn municipality as the main reasons for their resignation.
“They also expressed their frustration at the ongoing in-fighting within the regional structures of the ANC,” he said, claiming that further ANC resignations would follow in the run-up to next year’s election.
Botha was adamant that on Friday’s action by the DA was above board.
“There are special circumstances during an advertised budget meeting which allow for a call for urgent motions,” he said.
According to Botha, eight ANC members left the chamber. Seventeen remained, giving them the necessary quorum and majority to continue the meeting.
He confirmed the DA would on Monday serve a letter of “recognition and vacate” on the ANC. If that failed, they would seek an interdict forcing them to clear their offices.
ANC provincial treasurer Fezile Calanasaid no councillor would willingly resign and lose their income.
Taking a swipe at Botha, he said the DA man should “admit the backroom deals he made in Oudtshoorn”. But Botha vehemently denied the claim.
The Oudtshoorn council will reconvene a special council meeting on Monday to discuss the draft budget 2013/14, IDP and appointment of a municipal manager.
warda.meyer@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus